H1N1 flu deaths rise to 18 in Panama

Panama, (EFE) .- Panamanian health authorities reported today that at least 607 people have been hospitalized in the country with serious respiratory diseases, which have passed a total of 18 influenza virus H1N1 in so far year.

These figures were provided at an press conference in which the Panamanian Health Minister Francisco Javier Terrientes, announced the creation of the Committee on Coordination and Communication Influenza Virus.

The commission will be chaired by the director of the Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Studies (ICGES) of Panama, Nestor Sosa, who read a report noting that of the 607 hospitalized cases, 35% corresponds to the H1N1 influenza virus.

Sosa said that of the 18 deaths by influenza A, only 3 had no known risk factors, while the rest were in the risk group with symptoms of other diseases drag.
The authorities of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Social Security Fund (CSS) noted that they have been vaccinated more than 800,000 people, higher than previous years.

They announced they await the arrival of 1,180,000 additional doses of influenza vaccine, which is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and acquired through the Vaccine Fund of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) .

Sosa stressed that it is a “safe, efficient and effective” vaccine and any other information contrary to this is based on “speculation and lack of scientific rigor”.

He recalled that the “only official and authoritative information” is from the MoH and that the law provides for imprisonment to spread false news or rumor to affect national or economic security.

In social networks they have been frequent comments about the alleged reluctance of some people to be inoculated, and also the risks of spread of influenza that may occur in the inauguration of the Panama Canal expansion project on June 26 next to.

The National Director of Health, Mosca Itza Barahona said no oversaturation of patients and national hospitals are prepared to receive and treat cases of influenza that might arise.

Both the Minister of Health and the director of ICGES clarified that has not been surpassed curve cases to declare an epidemic influenza, as the figures remain within expected so far, but did not specify the amount of total cases.